Flesh-eating screwworms head for American livestock

By: Kevin Hardy

Outlets: Stateline

Published: May 28, 2026

Words: 1,341

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 4 days ago

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Southern states are bracing for a potential invasion of the New World screwworm that could disrupt livestock markets and raise already high meat prices.

So far, the parasite has yet to land in the United States, but it has been spreading across Mexico and Central America. Previously eradicated from the United States in the 1960s, the fly can infest livestock, pets, wildlife and in rare cases, humans. The parasites are named for their larvae, which …

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